U.S. Sen. Scott Brown reassures West Springfield area veterans about benefits

Photo by Michael S. Gordon / The RepublicanU.S. Sen. Scott Brown talks to veterans at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6714 on Riverdale Street in West Springfield.

WEST SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Sen. Scott P. Brown, R-Mass, reassured a group of veterans Tuesday that they should not lose any benefits they are currently drawing despite Congress eying cuts to such areas as the military.

“We have a contract with the people that have served,” Brown said.

However, later on during the meeting, the senator said, “The challenge right now is protecting the benefits you have right now.”

Brown addressed about 50 people during a forum at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6714 while in the area to visit the Big E and open a Western Massachusetts regional office at 1550 Main St. in Springfield. He serves on the Armed Services Committee in Congress, where some are eyeing cutting back military pensions.

Brown pointed out that he has visited Afghanistan as both a senator as well as in military uniform. He has served 32 years in the Massachusetts Army National Guard and is currently a lieutenant colonel.

The senator spoke briefly about his visit to Afghanistan, saying the situation there has him concerned.

“I was troubled. I’m not going to lie,” Brown said, but went on to add if the military withdrawal is done “thoughtfully and judiciously” we can leave Afghanistan better off than it was.

The senator, who is up for re-election in the fall, took aim at the lack of partisan cooperation in Congress.

“I’ve been disgusted by some of the things that have been going on. Every time there is a conflict we want to shut down government,” Brown said.

The senator called for a new spirit of bipartisanship, which he said would mean “we are Americans first.”

“I will work with any person of goodwill who comes through my door,” Brown said.

He did caution that the country is in “a financial emergency,” and needs to cut any inefficiencies.

Asked to comment on the prospect of facing off against Democrat and consumer financial advocate Elizabeth Warren in the 2012 senate election, Brown said he will be “ready.”

On a different tack, Air Force Vietnam veteran and Ludlow resident Eugene L. Basile complained that the federal Environmental Protection Agency is “strangling” businesses.

Brown said a lack of regulatory certainty and clarity in government is a problem for businesses.

“Businesses are saying ‘you know what, I’ll move my business to another state or another country,” the senator said.